FW: Wexler: Judge Dismisses Florida's Voters

["AlKolwicz" <AlKolwicz@xxxxxxxxx>]

FYI

Al Kolwicz

====================================================

From: Mamaux, Lale <mailto:Lale.Mamaux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 02/11/04 18:17:48
Subject: Wexler: Judge Dismisses Florida's Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2004

Contact: Lale Mamaux
Phone: (202)225-3001
Cell: (202)225-1913


Wexler: Judge Dismisses Florida's Voters

Wexler Considers Next Legal Action

(Washington, D.C.) Today, Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Karen
Miller dismissed Congressman Robert Wexler's lawsuit against Secretary
of State Glenda Hood and Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections
Theresa LePore. Wexler was hoping to expedite the discovery and trial of
his case in order to have touch-screen voting machines outfitted with
ballot printers as soon as possible.

"I do not see this ruling as my case being dismissed. I see this as the
Judge dismissing Florida's voters and their right to have a legal and
legitimate recount in a close election. Further, I feel justified in
filing this case because it already produced a victory in Palm Beach
County when Commissioners agreed to purchase ballot printers.

"I will continue the fight and pursue every legal option to ensure that
every Floridian will have their vote counted correctly. The law is clear
in Florida - in the event of a close election, a manual recount is
required. And with the voting equipment we use now, a manual recount is
impossible," Wexler said.

On January 16, 2004, Wexler filed a lawsuit against Florida Secretary of
State Glenda Hood, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Theresa
LePore and the Palm Beach County Commission for failing to ensure that
Floridians will have their votes recorded accurately. Palm Beach County
Circuit Judge Karen Miller granted a motion for an expedited hearing in
the lawsuit on January 26, 2004. The Palm Beach County Commission voted
unanimously on February 3 to purchase ballot printers in Palm Beach
County. With the passage of this resolution, the Palm Beach County
Commission was dismissed from the lawsuit; however, the suit has
continued against Hood and LePore. Additionally, the County Commissions
of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade voted unanimously at the
Tri-County Commission meeting on January 26 to request that the Florida
Legislature change the current election law to require ballot printers -
citing that mandatory printers are the only way to ensure that every
vote is accurately counted.

Congressman Wexler serves on the House International Relations Committee
and the House Judiciary Committee.

-30-

Lale M. Mamaux
Press Secretary
Office of Congressman Robert Wexler
213 Cannon House Office Building
(202) 225- 3001
lale.mamaux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx